Montgomery College Launches Collective Impact Institute to Advance Opportunity and Economic Mobility Across Montgomery County

Montgomery College officially launched its new Collective Impact Institute on June 17, bringing together approximately 70 leaders from education, business, government, philanthropy and nonprofit organizations to mark a significant milestone in Montgomery County’s ongoing efforts to expand opportunity and strengthen pathways to economic mobility.

Hosted at the College’s Bioscience Education Center in Germantown, the event celebrated the transition of collective impact work from Montgomery Moving Forward to Montgomery College, establishing a permanent institutional home for cross-sector collaboration focused on addressing complex community challenges.

The Collective Impact Institute will serve as a hub for partnership development, systems alignment, learning, employer engagement and collaborative innovation. Building on more than a decade of work led by Montgomery Moving Forward, the institute will help connect organizations, leaders and residents around shared goals that improve outcomes for Montgomery County communities.

“The launch of the Collective Impact Institute at Montgomery College represents an important next chapter in our ongoing commitment to workforce development and economic mobility as we strive to achieve a more just, equitable society,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College. “We are uniquely positioned to lead and convene this work because of our accessibility, our partnerships, our reach across the county and our deep connection to students, employers and community stakeholders.”

The institute arrives at a time when communities across the nation are increasingly recognizing that challenges such as workforce readiness, educational attainment, economic mobility and community well-being require coordinated action across sectors rather than isolated efforts by individual organizations.

Leading the initiative is Ian Gordon, who joined Montgomery College this spring as the inaugural director of the Collective Impact Institute. Gordon said the institute will focus on strengthening connections among organizations and helping create more accessible pathways to opportunity for county residents.

“I believe deeply that aspirations, talent and potential exist in every community. Yet too often, people encounter systems that feel disconnected, difficult to navigate or out of reach,” Gordon said. “What excites me most about the Collective Impact Institute is the opportunity to help strengthen the connections between institutions, community partners and residents in ways that make opportunity more accessible, more equitable and more life-changing.”

Rather than launching predetermined initiatives, Gordon said the institute’s first year will focus on listening, relationship building and stakeholder engagement to identify community priorities and shape future collaborations.

The institute builds on the legacy of Montgomery Moving Forward, a countywide collective impact initiative that convened leaders from multiple sectors for more than a decade to address issues including workforce development, early childhood education and strengthening the early care and education workforce.

Among its accomplishments, Montgomery Moving Forward helped establish WorkSource Montgomery, the Children’s Opportunity Alliance and supported the creation of the Maryland Early Care and Education Coalition.

“Including the philanthropy, education, government and business communities together was a hallmark of our process as we broke down silos and brought formerly overlooked stakeholders into the conversation to promote systems change,” said Sharon Friedman of Montgomery Moving Forward. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and last year we advocated for a permanent home for collective impact. We’re so excited to hand over the reins to Montgomery College.”  

The launch event also recognized the many leaders and organizations whose efforts helped establish the foundation for collective impact work in Montgomery County, including Montgomery Moving Forward co-chairs Annice Cody and Susan Madden and former Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz.

Speakers also acknowledged the leadership of Dr. Williams and Dr. Michelle Campbell, Montgomery College senior vice president for advancement and community engagement, whose support helped guide the transition and establish the Collective Impact Institute at the College.